Minneapolis Millers - Compiled by Stew Thornley
1954 - American Association,  78-74, 3rd place - Standings, statistics, and notes follow game-by-game results
Manager: Bill Rigney
*Scheduled for seven innings
Date Opponent Outcome Record Notes
Th 4/17 at Columbus Red Birds L 12-13 0-1 Losing pitcher-Jim Constable 0-1.  Millers were down 13-1 after 6 innings.  Grant Dunlap hits 2 home runs, including a grand slam, and drives in 7 runs for the Millers.
F 4/18 at Columbus, rain
Sa 4/19 at Columbus W 11-7 1-0 Winning pitcher-Ramon Monzant 1-0.
Su 4/18-1 at Charleston Senators L 0-1 1-2 LP-Al Worthington 0-1.
*Su 4/18-2 at Charleston Senators W 2-1 2-2 WP-Bud Byerly 1-0.
M 4/19 at Charleston Senators L 3-4 (10) 2-3 LP-George Spencer 0-1.
Tu 4/20 at Charleston Senators W 7-4 3-3 WP-Charley Fowler 1-0.
W 4/21 at Charleston Senators L 7-8 (11) 3-4 LP-Fred Sherkel 0-1.
Th 4/22 at Toledo Sox L 3-10 3-5 LP-Worthington 0-2.
F 4/23 at Toledo Sox L 3-6 3-6 LP-Jim Singleton 0-1.
Sa 4/24 at Toledo Sox W 8-4 4-6 WP-Spencer 1-1.
Su 4/25-1 at Louisville Colonels L 1-10 4-7 LP-Fowler 1-1.
*Su 4/25-2 at Louisville Colonels L 1-2 4-8 LP-Sherkel 0-2.
M 4/26 at Louisville Colonels L 3-4 4-9 LP-Monzant 1-1.
Tu 4/27 at Louisville Colonels W 7-5 5-9 WP-Alberto Orsorio 1-0.
Th 4/29 Columbus L 2-6 5-10 LP-Constable 0-2.
F 4/30 Columbus, rain
Sa 5/1 Columbus L 1-5 5-11 LP-Byerly 1-1.
Su 5/2 Charleston, rain
M 5/3 Charleston, snow and rain
Tu 5/4 Charleston W 8-6 6-11 WP-Fowler 2-1.
W 5/5 Charleston W 13-2 7-11 WP-Worthington 1-2.
Th 5/6 Louisville L 4-9 7-12 LP-Constable 0-3.
F 5/7 Louisville, cold
Sa 5/8 Louisville W 10-1 8-12 WP-Al Corwin 1-0.
Su 5/9-1 Louisville W 4-3 9-12 WP-Spencer 2-1.
*Su 5/9-2 Louisville L 0-4 9-13 LP-Byerly 1-2.
M 5/10 Toledo W 9-8 10-13 WP-Worthington 2-2.
Tu 5/11 Toledo W 9-7 11-13 WP-Constable 1-3.
W 5/12 Toledo L 4-6 11-14 LP-Fowler 2-2.
F 5/14 St. Paul Saints W 14-6 12-14 WP-Corwin 2-0.
Sa 5/15 at St. Paul L 4-6 12-15 LP-Worthington 2-3.
Su 5/16 St. Paul W 15-9 13-15 WP-Byerly 2-2.  Millers get 19 hits, including home runs by Billy Klaus, Foster Castleman, Frank Baldwin, George Wilson, and Gail Harris.
M 5/17 at Kansas City Blues W 3-2 (10) 14-15 WP-Monzant 2-1.
Tu 5/18 at Kansas City, rain
*W 5/19-1 at Kansas City W 7-5 15-15 WP-Constable 2-3.
W 5/19-2 at Kansas City W 6-1 16-15 WP-Worthington 3-3.
Tu 5/20 at Kansas City W 1-0 17-15 WP-Corwin 3-0.
F 5/21 Indianapolis Indians W 16-2 18-15 WP -Byerly 3-2.  Millers now tied for second, 4-1/2 games behind Indianapolis.  Byerly strikes out 10, allows only 2 runs on homers by Rocky Colavito (his league-leading 13th) and Joe Altobelli.  Millers get 20 hits and knock out bonus-baby Billy Joe Davidson (signed by Cleveland in 1951 for a reported $150,000), who pitches to only 5 batters, retiring none of them, in the 1st.  Castleman gets 3 hits to raise his league-leading batting average to .370.  Colavito gets 3 hits in the game.
Sa 5/22 Indianapolis W 8-6 19-15 WP-Monzant 3-1.  Wilson homers and Rance Pless hits 2 homers, one a grand slam, as the Millers win their 7th straight and pull to within 3-1/2 games of the Indians.  Colavito gets 4 hits, including a home run, and drives in 3 runs.
Su 5/23 Indianapolis L 9-12 (10) 19-16 LP-Spencer 2-2.  Colavito, hit on the elbow by a pitch his first time up, hits 3 straight home runs and drives in 7.  Colavito gets another hit to give him 11 hits, 5 home runs, and 11 RBIs in the series.  Indians win on Gale Wade's 3-run homer in the 10th off Spencer.
M 5/24 Kansas City W 6-5 20-16 WP-Constable 2-2.  Millers take sole possession of second place despite 2 home runs by Kansas City's Marv Throneberry.
Tu 5/25 Kansas City L 3-6 20-17 LP-Corwin 3-1.
W 5/26 Kansas City, rain
Th 5/27 Kansas City, rain
F 5/28 at Indianapolis W 3-2 21-17 WP-Monzant 4-1.
Sa 5/29 at Indianapolis L 3-12 21-18 LP-Byerly 3-3.
Su 5/30 at Indianapolis L 3-4 21-19 LP-Constable 3-4.  Herb Score of Indianapolis walks 8 but allows only 3 scratch hits and strikes out 13.  Colavito hits his 19th home run.
M 5/31 a.m. at St. Paul L 0-4 21-20 LP-Corwin 3-2.
M 5/31 p.m. St. Paul W 6-3 22-20 WP-Worthington 4-3.
Tu 6/1 at St. Paul W 11-3 23-20 WP-Monzant 5-1.
W 6/2 St. Paul, rain
F 6/4 at Louisville L 2-5 23-21 LP-Constable 3-5.
Su 6/6-1 at Louisville W 2-1 24-21 WP-Corwin 4-2.
*Su 6/6-2 at Louisville W 8-4 25-21 WP-Singleton 1-1.
M 6/7 at Toledo L 2-5 25-22 LP-Monzant 5-2.
Tu 6/8 at Toledo L 4-5 25-23 LP-Fowler 2-3.
W 6/9 at Toledo L 7-11 25-24 LP-Constable 3-6.
Th 6/10 at Toledo L 0-9 25-25 LP-Worthington 4-4.
F 6/11 at Columbus L 7-8 25-26 LP-Spencer 2-3.
Sa 6/12 at Columbus L 6-9 25-27 LP-Monzant 5-3.
Su 6/13-1 at Columbus L 7-8 (10) 25-28 LP-Constable 3-7.
*Su 6/13-2 at Columbus W 5-0 26-28 WP-Byerly 4-3.
M 6/14 at Charleston W 4-1 27-28 WP-Worthington 5-4.
Tu 6/15 at Charleston W 10-3 28-28 WP-Corwin 5-2.
W 6/16 at Charleston W 8-2 29-28 WP-Monzant 6-3.
F 618 Toledo W 3-1 30-28 WP-Byerly 5-3.
Sa 6/19 Toledo W 3-1 31-28 WP-Worthington 6-4
Su 6/20-1 Toledo W 6-2 32-28 WP-Monzant 7-3.
*Su 6/20-2 Toledo W 7-1 33-28 WP-Constable 4-7.
M 6/21 Louisville L 2-3 (12) 33-29 LP-Singleton 1-2.
Tu 6/22 Louisville W 12-5 34-29 WP-Corwin 6-2.
W 6/23 Louisville L 5-12 34-30 LP-Byerly 5-4.
Th 6/24 Columbus L 2-3 34-31 LP-Worthington 6-5.
*F 6/25-1 Columbus L 0-7 34-32 LP-Constable 4-8.
F 6/25-2 Columbus W 3-2 35-32 WP-Spencer 3-3.
Sa 6/26 Columbus W 3-2 36-32 WP-Spencer 4-3.
Su 6/27-1 Columbus L 5-10 36-33 LP-Spencer 4-4.
*Su 6/27-2 Columbus L 3-5 36-34 LP-Byerly 5-5.
M 6/28 Charleston, rain
*Tu 3/29-1 Charleston L 5-6 36-35 LP-Mario Picone 0-1.
Tu 6/29-2 Charleston W 5-4 37-35 WP-Worthington 7-5.
W 6/30 Charleston L 4-5 (11) 37-36 LP-Spencer 4-5.  In the last of the 9th inning, with Charleston leading 4-3, manager Joe Becker moved lefthander Ross Grimsley to right field and brought in righthander Tom Hurd, who gave up a game-tying home run to Castleman.  For the rest of the game Becker alternated Hurd and Grimsley between the mound and right field.  The Millers had more left-handed hitters in the linup, so Hurd faced only four batters and retired only one.  Grimsley did not allow a runner during this time and got the win by scoring the winning run in the top of the 11th after beating out a bunt to reach base and coming around on a hit, sacrifice, and passed ball.
Th 7/1 Charleston L 1-3 37-37 LP-Corwin 6-3.
F 7/2 at St. Paul L 1-6 37-38 LP-Byerly 5-6.
Sa 7/3 St. Paul W 9-8 38-38 WP-Worthington 8-5.
Su 7/4 at St. Paul L 5-10 38-39 LP-Picone 0-2.
M 7/5 a.m. St Paul L 1-11 38-40 LP-Fowler 2-4.
M 7/5 p.m. at St. Paul L 3-4 38-41 LP-Corwin 6-4.
Tu 7/6 at Indianapolis W 4-1 39-41 WP-Byerly 6-6.
W 7/7 at Indianapolis, rain
*Th 7/8-1 at Indianapolis W 5-3 40-41 WP-Worthington 9-5.
Th 7/8-2 at Indianapolis L 1-2 40-42 LP-Constable 4-9.
F 7/9 Kansas City, rain
*Sa 7/10-1 Kansas City L 4-8 40-43 LP-Spencer 4-6.
Sa 7/10-2 Kansas City L 4-7 40-44 LP-Fowler 2-5.
Su 7/11-1 Kansas City W 8-5 41-44 WP-Byerly 7-6.
*Su 7/11-2 Kansas City L 6-8 41-45 LP-Singleton 1-3.
M 7/12 Indianapolis L 0-7 41-46 LP-Constable 4-10.  Herb Score pitches his third shutout of the season to increase his record to 15-2, strikes out 17 and doesn't walk a batter.
Tu 7/13 Indianapolis L 4-5 (10) 41-47 LP-Spencer 4-7.
W 7/14 Indianapolis W 5-1 42-47 WP-Worthington 10-5.
Th 7/15 Indianapolis L 5-10 42-48 LP-Byerly 7-7.
F 7/16 at Kansas City L 1-4 42-49 LP-Constable 4-11.
Sa 7/17 at Kansas City W 6-4 43-49 WP-Fowler 3-5.
Su 7/18-1 at Kansas City W 2-0 44-49 WP-Worthington 11-5.
*Su 7/18-2 at Kansas City L 5-7 44-50 LP-Red Fahr 0-1.
M 7/19 at Columbus W 6-3 45-50 WP-Byerly 8-7.
*Tu 7/20-1 at Columbus, rain
Tu 7/20-2 at Columbus, rain
*W 7/21-1 at Columbus W 3-1 46-50 WP-Constable 5-11.
W 7/21-2 at Columbus W 22-8 47-50 WP-Bill Connolly 1-0.  Ebba St. Claire hits 3 home runs and drives in 8 runs.  Wilson hits a grand slam (17th home run for the season).  Gerry Thomas hits 3 home runs for Columbus.
*Th 7/22-1 at Columbus L 0-1 47-51 LP-Fowler 3-6.
Th 7/22-2 at Columbus L 2-3 47-52 LP-Worthington 11-6
F 7/23 at Charleston L 3-4 47-53 LP-Singleton 1-4.
Sa 7/24 at Charleston W 3-1 48-53 WP-Fahr 1-1.
Su 7/25 at Charleston L 3-5 48-54 LP-Worthington 11-7.
Tu 7/27 Columbus W 6-1 49-54 WP-Constable 6-11.
W 7/28 Columbus L 6-11 49-55 LP-Byerly 8-8.
Th 7/29 Columbus W 10-2 50-55 WP-Connelly 2-0.
*F 7/30-1 Charleston, rain
F 7/30-2 Charleston, rain
Sa 7/31-1 Charleston W 6-5 (11) 51-55 WP-Connelly 3-0.
*Sa 7/31-2 Charleston W 3-0 52-55 WP-Fowler 4-6.
Su 8/1-1 Charleston W 7-3 53-55 WP-Monzant 8-3.
*Su 8/1-2 Charleston W 3-2 54-55 WP-Fahr 2-1.
M 8/2 at St. Paul W 7-6 (11) 55-55 WP-Constable 7-11.
Tu 8/3 St. Paul W 10-7 56-55 WP-Connelly 4-0.
W 8/4 at St. Paul L 3-6 56-56 LP-Fowler 4-7.
Th 8/5 at Indianapolis W 5-3 (11) 57-56 WP-Spencer 5-7.
F 8/6 at Indianapolis W 8-3 58-56 WP-Fahr 3-1.
Sa 8/7 at Indianapolis L 0-2 58-57 LP-Constable 7-12.
Su 8/8 at Indianapolis W 9-5 59-57 WP-Connelly 5-0.
M 8/9 American Association All-Star Game at Indianapolis L 2-3 Billy Klaus starts at shortstop and Rance Pless pinch-hits (and singles) for Minneapolis.  Losing pitcher-Bert Thiel of Toledo.  First American Association All-Star Game since 1946.
Tu 8/10 at St. Cloud Rox (ex.) W 10-6 WP-Constable.  Wilson homers, drives in 4 runs, and pitches 2/3 of an inning.
W 8/11 New York Giants (ex.) W 6-5 WP-Singleton.  Paul Giel starts for the Giants before 8,800 fans in the first appearance of a major league team at Nicollet Park since the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox played the Millers prior to the 1917 season.  Millers score 2 unearned runs in the 8th to win.
*Tu 8/12-1 at Louisville L 1-4 59-58 LP-Monzant 8-4.
Tu 8/21-2 at Louisville L 4-7 59-59 LP-Fahr 3-2.
F 8/13 at Louisville L 5-6 59-60 LP-Connelly 5-1.
Sa 8/14 at Louisville W 11-2 60-60 WP-Fowler 5-7.  Wilson gets 4 hits.
Su 8/15 at Toledo W 15-3 61-60 WP-Constable 8-12.  Wilson homers twice (23), Harris homers (23).
M 8/16 at Toledo L 4-7 61-61 LP-Monzant 8-5.
Tu 8/17 at Toledo W 7-1 62-61 WP-Fahr 4-2.
W 8/18 at Toledo W 7-5 (13) 63-61 WP-Spencer 6-7.
Th 8/19 Louisville W 5-4 64-61 WP-Fowler 6-7.
F 8/20 Louisville L 4-6 64-62 LP-Monzant 8-6.
Sa 8/21 Louisville L 3-6 64-63 LP-Fahr 4-3.
Su 8/22 Louisville L 9-13 64-64 LP-Connelly 5-2.
M 8/23 Toledo W 6-5 65-64 WP-Fahr 5-3.
Tu 8/24 Toledo W 5-2 66-64 WP-Monzant 9-6.
W 8/25 Toledo L 4-5 66-65 LP-Byerly 8-9.
Th 8/26 Toledo L 6-9 66-66 LP-Connelly 5-3.
F 8/27 at St. Paul L 4-7 66-67 LP-Fowler 6-8.
Sa 8/28 St. Paul W 10-4 67-67 WP-Monzant 10-6.  Monzant strikes out 16 in 8-2/3 innings.  Spencer strikes out 1 to end the game.  Harris homers.  Pless drives in 4 runs and reaches 100 for the season.
Su 8/29 St. Paul L 1-5 67-68 LP-Fahr 5-4.
*M 8/30-1 Kansas City W 10-5 68-68 WP-Byerly 9-9.  HR-Gip Dickens, Chico Ibanez, Ray Mueller, Harris.
M 8/30-2 Kansas City W 8-3 69-68 WP-Connelly 6-3.  HR-Ibanez, Harris, St. Claire.  Harris has 29 homers, trails Colavito by 5.
*Tu 8/31-1 Kansas City W 14-8 70-68 WP-Constable 9-12.  HR-Wilson, Harris, Mueller.  Harris drives in 3 runs to top 100 for the season.
Tu 8/31-2 Kansas City L 6-7 70-69 LP-Fowler 6-9.  HR-Klaus, St. Claire, Wilson, Harris.
W 9/1 Kansas City W 9-7 71-69 WP-Monzant 11-6.
Th 9/2 Indianapolis W 7-3 72-69 WP-Fahr 6-4.  Despite losing, Indians clinch pennant as Louisville loses.
F 9/3 Indianapolis, rain
Sa 9/4-1 Indianapolis L 2-5 72-70 LP-Constable 9-13.
*Sa 9/4-2 Indianapolis L 0-3 72-72 LP-Byerly 9-10
Su 9/5-1 Indianapolis, rain
*Su 9/5-2 Indianapolis, rain
M 9/6 a.m. at St. Paul L 2-6 72-72 LP-Monzant 11-7.
M 9/6 p.m. St. Paul L 6-11 72-73 LP-Fahr 6-5.  Saints hit 8 home runs in the doubleheader, giving them 169 and breaking their season record of 167, set in 1931.  With the sweep, Saints are within 1 game of the fourth-place Millers.
Tu 9/7 at St. Paul W 7-4 73-73 WP-Connelly 7-3.
W 9/8 St. Paul W 6-2 74-73 WP-Constable 10-13.
Th 9/9 St. Paul W 5-2 75-73 WP-Byerly 10-10.  Mllers clinch playoff spot.
F 9/10 at Kansas City W 3-1 76-73 WP-Joe Margoneri 1-0.
Sa 9/11 at Kansas City W 6-4 77-73 WP-Connelly 8-3.
Su 9/12 at Kansas City W 3-0 78-73 LP-Singleton 2-4.  Final game in the history of the Kansas City Blues.
Playoffs
Tu 9/14 at Indianapolis L 2-4 0-1 LP-Fahr.  Down 2-0, Indians score 2 in the 7th and 2 in the 8th.  Sam Jones starts for Indianapolis as Herb Score (the league's Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year who won 22 games and struck out 330 batters to set a new league record) is out with pneumonia.  (Score missed the entire series with the Millers but pitched one game - allowing only 1 hit over 10 innings while walking 10 and striking out 14 and getting a no-decision - in the next series, against Louisville.)
W 9/15 at Indianapolis W 5-4 (14) 1-1 WP-Constable.  Indianapolis ties the game on Harry Simpson's 1-out homer in the 9th.  Wilson doubles home Joe Bracchitta in the 14th for the winning run.
Th 9/16 at Indianapolis L 3-6 1-2 LP-Connelly.  Down 3-0, Indians score 2 runs in the 6th, 7th, and 8th innings.
Sa 9/18 Indianapolis L 5-13 1-3 LP-Constable.  Indianapolis builds 2-0 lead after 2-1/2 innings.  Wilson and Harris homer for the Millers off Jones.
Su 9/19 Indianapolis W 12-10 (10) 2-3 WP-Connelly.  
Millers carry 7-0 lead into the 6th when Joe Ginsberg cuts the lead with a grand slam.  Millers have 10-5 lead after 8.  Simpson hits a 3-run homer with 1 out and Milt Nielsen follows with a homer.  Constable relieves Byerly and gives up double to Ginsberg.  Hank Foiles reaches first on a throwing error by Dickens at third, but first-baseman Harris throws out Ginsberg trying to go to third on the play.  Owen Friend singles to right, and the ball goes through Wilson's legs.  Foiles tried to score and appeared he would be thrown out at the play, but the throw from the outfield went through Mueller's legs, allowing Foiles to score the tying run.  In the 10th Dickens hit a 2-out, 2-run homer off Ted Wilks to win the game.  Dickens hit for the cycle in the game.  Millers get 19 hits.  Wilks also got the loss in the 14-inning game on September 15.
M 9/20 Indianapolis L 5-9 2-4 LP-Margoneri.  Indianapolis builds 5-0 lead after 1-1/2, aided by Simpson's 3-run homer.  Millers cut lead to 5-4, but the Indians score 4 in the 6th to open up 9-4 lead.  Billy Joe Davidson gets the win in relief.  Millers have never advanced beyond the first playoff round.
W L Manager
Indianapolis 95 57 Kerby Farrell
Louisville 85 68 Mike "Pinky" Higgins
Minneapolis 78 73 Bill Rigney
Columbus 77 76 John Keane
St. Paul 75 78 Clay Bryant
Toledo 74 80 George Selkirk
Kansas City 68 85 Harry Craft
Charleston 59 94 Joe Becker
Statistics
Player Games Batting Average Home Runs Runs Batted In Position
Bill Rigney 43 .333 0 6 2b
Foster Castleman 85 .317 11 59 2b
Gail Harris 150 .309 34 113 1b
George Wilson 136 .302 27 92 of
Chico Ibanez 94 .302 5 31 2b
Rance Pless 138 .290 18 109 3b
Don Lund 42 .287 6 22 of
Grant Dunlap 49 .284 4 28 of
Gip Dickens 131 .281 15 67 3b-of
Billy Klaus 150 .280 21 66 ss
Ray Mueller 61 .266 5 19 c
Harv Gentry 113 .242 8 48 of
Joe Bracchitta 104 .242 4 17 of
Frank Baldwin 86 .240 2 31 c
Ray Berns 16 .238 1 2 of
Alex Cosmidis 5 .188
Ebba St. Claire 51 .186 6 18 c
Pitcher G IP W L ERA
George Spencer 68 97 6 7 3.15 All but 1 were in relief.
Al Corwin 12 92 6 4 3.33
Red Fahr* 25 128 9 10 3.80
Jim Singleton 39 67 2 4 4.30
Al Worthington 24 152 11 7 4.32
Jim Constable 37 197 10 13 4.39
Bud Byerly 28 162 10 10 4.39
Ramon Monzant 27 161 11 7 4.42
Alberto Osorio 14 33 1 0 4.64
Charley Fowler 34 120 6 9 4.80
Bill Connelly 13 76 8 3 5.68
Fred Sherkel 14 28 0 2 6.43
Joe Margoneri 3 1 0
Pete Burnside 6 0 0
Les Klesitz 3 0 0
Monte Kennedy 1 0 0
Mario Picone 4 0 2
*Fahr’s statistics include games pitched with Charleston in 1954.
George Wilson and Billy Klaus tied for the American Association lead with 110 runs.